(L to R) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Pak Ui Chun and Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura pose for a family photo before the first foreign ministers' informal meeting of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, in Singapore, July 23, 2008. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

     The first informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Six-Party Talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue concluded here on Wednesday with "very meaningful results", Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.

    In a news briefing after the close-door talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting, Yang said that the Six-Party Talks have "very meaningful results", adding that they exchanged views and deepened understanding and expressed the will of continued pushing forward the Six-Party Talks further.

    Yang said, "with joint efforts, the six parties agreed that the initial success has been achieved" and the informal talks "made useful preparation for the formal Six-Party Ministerial Talks in early day".

    The Chinese foreign minister said the six parties reaffirmed they will earnestly fulfill their commitment to the signed joint statements and related documents.

    Yang said all agreed the Six-Party Talks are an important platform for exchanging views and enhancing understanding, adding that the six parties should continue to enhance their exchanges so as to "achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress".

L to R) South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi arrive at the venue of the first foregin ministers' informal meeting of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, in Singapore, July 23, 2008. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

    "As the Chair of Six-Party Talks," Yang said, "China will continue to make contributions...."

    Yang said that although initial success has been achieved, yet "we have a lot of work to do".

    The six countries involved in the talks are DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), China, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

    In a statement issued late Tuesday night on ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and South Korea), ASEAN ministers welcomed recent developments that have contributed to regional peace and security in East Asia.

    They reiterated their support for the Six-Party Talks and for the eventual normalization of relations between the relevant Six-Party members.

    The latest round of talks was held in Beijing. Chief delegates of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue ended talks on July 12, agreeing to establish a verification mechanism for denuclearization.     (Northeast Web)

Foreign Ministers and representatives to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus three foreign ministers meeting hold hands during the meeting in Singapore July 22, 2008. Foreign ministers from the ASEAN countries and China, Japan and South Korea attended the meeting here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)